[Effect of the addition of antibiotics on the fattening capacity of broilers fed optimum rations. 4. Lambdamycin].
A total of 3426 broilers were used in 3 fattening trials. The birds received supplements of the antibiotic lamdbamycine in amounts of 30 or 40 mg per kg of feed added to adequately balanced fattening rations. OTC supplements (40 mg per kg) which were an obligatory food component at the time of the trial were used as controls. The results obtained may be summarized as follows: Supplements of neither lambdamycine nor oxytetracycline exerted any significant influence on food consumption. Lambdamycine improved the rate of liveweight gains by 2% (trial 1, alpha greater than 0.05) and 5% (trial 2 and 3; trial 2: alpha less than 0.05, trial 3: alpha greater than 0.05). The growth-promoting effect of OTC was less pronounced than usual (2-3%; alpha less than 0.05) or was completely absent (trial 2). Lambdamycine decreased the rate of food consumption per unit of weight gain in 2 trials (trial 2: alpha less than 0.01) OTC did not influence the rate of food consumption.